Boston City Council Proposes Resolution to Reduce Violence

Following in the foot steps of sixteen countriesWHEREAS corporal punishment is the intentional
worldwide, which have prohibited all forms of corporalinfliction of physical pain for the purpose of
punishment of children, Boston is taking the lead inpunishment; and
the United States. [See proposed resolution below.]WHEREAS corporal punishment of children typically
October 19, 2006, the Greek Parliament passed Lawoccurs when the adult caretaker is angry and can
3500/2006 on the Combating Intra-family Violence,escalate to a dangerous level, and can interfere with
under which corporal punishment of children withinopen and honest communication between children
the family is prohibited. Article 4 of the law states:and their caretakers; and
"Physical violence against children as a disciplinaryWHEREAS the American Academy of Pediatrics and
measure in the context of their upbringing brings thechildren's advocates oppose the use of corporal
consequences of Article 1532 of the Civil Code."punishment of children; and
The prohibition brings the number of states in EuropeWHEREAS national surveys and current research
to 15 (16 worldwide) which have enacted legislationshow that corporal punishment is common (35% of
explicitly prohibiting all corporal punishment of children,infants are hit before they are one year old); indicate
including in the home setting.that the majority of child abuse cases start out as
The states include: Sweden (1979), Finland (1983),corporal punishment; show a strong correlation
Norway (1987), Austria (1989), Cyprus (1994),between corporal punishment and substance abuse,
Denmark (1997), Latvia (1998), Croatia (1999),learning disorders, and lower scholastic achievement;
Bulgaria (2000), Germany (2000), Iceland (2003),and indicate that corporal punishment often produces
Romania (2004), Ukraine (2004) and Hungary (2005).anger, resentment, low self-esteem, anxiety,
Twenty-two U.S. states allow corporal punishment inhelplessness, and humiliation; and
school. Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida,WHEREAS research demonstrates that the more
Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,children are hit, the greater the likelihood that they
Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio Oklahoma,will engage in aggressive and anti-social behavior, with
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas,children experiencing frequent corporal punishment
Wyoming.more likely to physically attack siblings and attack a
If your state allows paddling in school, I urge you tospouse as an adult; and
do what YOU can to pass a bill in your state toWHEREAS Massachusetts state law (Chapter 71,
prevent legalized child abuse. And I also, urge you toSection 37G) prohibits the use of corporal punishment
do what YOU can to pass a resolution to refrainupon any pupil by teachers and school administrators;
from allowing corporal punishment of children in theand
home as well. SeeWHEREAS corporal punishment is an ineffective
Resolution to Reduce Violence by Refraining fromdiscipline strategy with children of all ages and there
Corporal Punishment of Children Submitted to Bostonexist many effective alternatives to corporal
City Council May 9, 2007punishment of children; therefore be it
___RESOLVED the Boston City Council requests that
WHEREAS children deserve to grow up in anappropriate city departments, agencies, educators,
environment free from violence and physical harm;health care providers, and others who have contact
andwith children explore how they can educate others
WHEREAS children are at the most vulnerable andabout corporal punishment and alternative discipline
impressionable period of their lives during which futuretechniques; and therefore be it further
behavior, happiness, and psychological health areRESOLVED that the Boston City Council encourages
greatly influenced; andparents and caregivers of children to refrain from the
WHEREAS children learn good behavior by imitatinguse of corporal punishment and to use alternative
the good behavior of the significant adults in theirmethods of child discipline to reduce violence, protect
lives, and to show respect for others because theyour children's health and future well-being, and
have been shown respect; andpromote mutual respect between adults and children.